Sweden: The far-right Sweden Democrats surged in popularity—and helped propel Sweden’s right-wing bloc to victory.
Sweden’s parliament on Monday elected conservative leader Ulf Kristersson as Prime Minister at the head of a centre-right coalition that has promised to crack down on crime and curtail immigration in partnership with a populist party with a far-right wing coalition.
Kristersson was voted to power with 176-173 in his favour and will stake his claim today.
His three-party alliance swept to secure a majority in the 349-seat Riksdag or parliament, after the Sept 11 elections by teaming up with the Sweden Democrats, a party founded by right-extremists in the 1980s. The party has softened its image and moved toward the mainstream, but was until recently considered too radical to work with by all other parliamentary groups.
Kristersson worked on a deal last week whereby his conservative Moderate Party is poised to form a government with the support of smaller parties known as Christian Democrats and Liberals.
No more asylum to refugees
Kristersson’s Moderate Party agreed on a common manifesto that included making it harder for asylum-seekers to stay in Sweden and easier for Government authorities to deport foreign nationals with criminal backgrounds. Gang violence has become a major concern for Sweden, particularly in neighbourhoods dominated by immigrant criminals, and this is considered a key reason for the country’s shift in foreign policies especially taking stringent actions against migrants.
Meanwhile, former Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson resigned on Thursday after an unprecedented right-wing and far-right bloc narrowly won Sunday’s election. The far-right anti-immigration Sweden Democrats (SD) are poised to become the largest party and will have a big say on the new administration’s program.
The recent poll results were very much in-line with mass expectations. Sweden is confronting an increasing severe challenge. In comparison to the ruling centre-left bloc, the right wing, especially the Sweden Democrats, will propose some bold and radical reforms, which cater to the mentality of the Swedish public. Issues such as immigration and crime, and gang violence have precisely been the spotlight of the Swedish recently, and these are what far-right parties like the Swedish Democrats assured to initiate actions against, during pre-poll campaigns.
Discontent of toeing US policies in sanctioning Russia thus creating energy crisis in the country
Swedish public is also discontent with the way the incumbent government is dealing with the energy crisis. Andersson’s loss may also have something to do with the energy policy of her government. When Sweden and other European countries followed the US in sanctioning Russia, it turned out only Europe is suffering from the energy crisis, while the US is not nagged by the shortage of energy. The public tends to be disappointed that the government blindly follows US’ lead.
Right-wing uprising in Europe
It has always been tricky to form governments in multiparty parliamentary systems. But these days, as Europe’s established political parties are getting fractured at the expense of new right-wing populist parties rising.
Sweden is the latest example of such political deadlock. A month after parliamentary elections, in which the far-right Sweden Democrats won a sizable share of the vote—17.5 per cent, or 62 seats out of 349 and are now forming a coalition government.
Populism is on the rise in Europe, and far-right forces have ramped up their influence in European politics. French far-right ‘Rassemblement National leader Marine Le Pen’ had a strong showing in the 2022 presidential elections.
One reason the European far-right parties have gained mounting support and influence is that the traditional established parties in Europe are incapable of coming up with satisfactory solutions to the growing number of problems in Europe, such as the financial evils owing to the pouring-in of refugees, as well as the heavy burden of social welfare, while the set of rhetoric and proposals by the far-right ones is more likely to win over people’s hearts.
Furthermore, in the face of many conflicts and challenges, European countries tend to seek an unadventurous solution as a response, that is, to divert domestic attention by underlining external threats or challenges.
The destinies of European countries are interconnected. When a far-right party gains power in one country, it will soon have an impact on other countries. Therefore, it cannot rule out the possibility that far-right parties will be popular in more European countries. Sweden is not just an example – it may set an example sooner.
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